UP to decide on slain student’s ‘graduation’

BAGUIO CITY — He would have been one of 38 students receiving their degrees in Mass Communications today from the University of the Philippines College Baguio (UPCB).

Failing to do that in person, UPCB student Gian Carlo Leung, head of the school’s Beta Sigma chapter who, along with a female friend, was kidnapped and killed allegedly by a rival fraternity last month, would have graduated posthumously today.

In fact, Leung was included in the 32-page program for the UPCB graduation which will be held at the Baguio Convention Center.

But approval for the graduation of any student takes "several layers," said UPCB secretary Ofelia Giron, and that although Leung had hurdled the University Council, the process would have to go up to the Board of Regents.

Because Leung would be the first-ever UPCB student to graduate posthumously, "all details should be known," thus the UP president’s decision to "defer the approval," Giron said.

Leung’s case will be discussed by the staff of UP president Francisco Nemenzo in early May and later deliberated by the Board of Regents, she added. — Aurora Alambra